Ice tunnel mounting

ABSTRACT

An ice tunnel is mounted in a freezer compartment through having openings in a side wall thereof to receive L-shaped supports on a side wall of the freezer compartment by moving the ice tunnel toward the side wall of the freezer compartment to enable the supports to protrude through the openings into the ice tunnel and then moving the ice tunnel rearwardly. One opening has a movable tab therein to reduce the length of the opening to less than the length of the L-shaped support whereby the tab bends as the ice tunnel is moved toward the freezer compartment wall to receive the L-shaped supports and then bends back to cooperate with the rear of the L-shaped support at the completion of rearward movement of the ice tunnel to lock the ice tunnel to the wall. The ice tunnel is removed from its mounting by inserting a sharp instrument in the space between the tab and an edge of the opening to move the tab inwardly into the ice tunnel so that the ice tunnel can be moved forwardly to a position such that the Lshaped supports are aligned with the openings whereby the ice tunnel can be pulled away from the wall of the freezer compartment.

United States Patent [1 1 Boorman, Jr.

[4 1 Sept. 3, 1974 [CE TUNNEL MOUNTING Earl D. Boorman, Jr., Louisville,Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 395,851

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-William J. Wye Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter E. Rule57 ABSTRACT An ice tunnel is mounted in a freezer compartment throughhaving openings in a side wall thereof to receive L-shaped supports on aside wall of the freezer compartment by moving the ice tunnel toward theside wall of the freezer compartment to enable the supports to protrudethrough the openings into the ice tunnel and then moving the ice tunnelrearwardly. One opening has a movable tab therein to reduce the lengthof the opening to less than the length of the L- shaped support wherebythe tab bends as the ice tunnel is moved toward the freezer compartmentwall to receive the L-shaped supports and then bends back to cooperatewith the rear of the L-shaped support at the completion of rearwardmovement of the ice tunnel to lock the ice tunnel to the wall. The icetunnel is removed from its mounting by inserting a sharp instrument inthe space between the tab and an edge of the opening to move the tabinwardly into the ice tunnel so that the ice tunnel can be movedforwardly to a position such that the L-shaped supports are aligned withthe openings whereby the ice tunnel can be pulled away from the wall ofthe freezer compartment.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIEN'TEDSEP3 m4 ICE TUNNEL MOUNTINGBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an icetunnel mounted in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator to supportice trays. Such ice tunnels, open at both ends, are normally mountedwithin the freezer compartment forwardly of the rear wall of the freezercompartment and in line with an air duct in the rear wall of the freezercompartment so that air can flow through the ice tunnel to freeze thewater in the ice trays supported within the ice tunnel.

One means of mounting an ice tunnel within the freezer compartment hasbeen to drive screws through holes in a flange at the top of the icetunnel and then fasten the screws to a wall of the freezer compartment.However, this mounting of the ice tunnel has limited the location of theice tunnel within the freezer compartment because it has been necessaryfor the screws to be easily accessible to mount and remove the icetunnel. Thus, the previous mounting arrangement has limited the locationof the ice tunnel within the freezer compartment.

Furthermore, the use of screws to mount the ice tunnel has preventedmost users of refrigerators from removing the ice tunnel to clean it.This is because the user would not know whether the removal of thescrews could affect the operation of the refrigerator or be certain thatthe screws could be returned into the proper position to secure the icetunnel if the user believed that the removal of the screws would notaffect the operation of the refrigerator.

The present invention satisfactorily solves the foregoing problems byproviding a mounting arrangement for an ice tunnel in which the icetunnel is readily removable from the freezer compartment wheneverdesired. Thus, the ice tunnel may be easily removed for cleaningpurposes.

Another problem of the prior mounting arrangement for an ice tunnel isthat the use of the screws to mount the ice tunnel after the tunnel hasbeen positioned in the compartment was time consuming so as to increasemanufacturing costs. It was necessary for the screws to be disposed inthe proper locations; this took both time and the use of a tool.

The ice tunnel mounting arrangement of the present inventionsatisfactorily solves this problem since there is no tool required tomount the ice tunnel. Instead, the ice tunnel is readily mounted on thewall of the freezer compartment by the assembler after the mountingmeans has been secured to the compartment wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention employs supportsextending from and secured to a wall of the freezer compartment. Thesupports enable an ice tunnel to be mounted within the freezercompartment by merely moving the ice tunnel toward the wall having thesupports, the supports being received in openings in a wall of the icetunnel and being designed to retain the ice tunnel by movement of theice tunnel rearwardly into the freezer compartment.

The supports mounted on one wall of the compartment are preferably.L-shaped and have one leg extending substantially perpendicular from thewall of the freezer compartment with the other leg being disposed inspaced and substantially parallel relation to the wall of the freezercompartment. The ice tunnel is provided with openings in a wall thereofto receive the supports when the ice tunnel is moved towards the wall ofthe freezer compartment having the supports. Further movement of the icetunnel into the freezer compartmentor parallel to the support wallcauses the support legs, which are parallel to the freezer compartmentwall and spaced therefrom, to engage the inner surface of the wall ofthe ice tunnel in which the openings are formed.

One of the openings in the ice tunnel wall has its size reduced to lessthan that of the support received therein by a movable resilient tab.When the support is introduced into the opening, the tab bends to allowthe support to extend through the opening into the ice tunnel. Then,when the ice tunnel is moved rearwardly, the tab snaps behind thesupport so that the ice tunnel is locked to the freezer compartment wallby the supports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The attached drawing illustrates apreferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary elevational view of a portion of arefrigerator freezer compartment having an ice tunnel of the presentinvention mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mounting arrangement ofthe present invention showing the the ice tunnel and a portion of thewall of the freezer compartment having the supports; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the mountingarrangement of the present invention showing the locking of the icetunnel and taken from the interior of the ice tunnel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing andparticularly FIG. 1, there is shown a refrigerator 10 having a freezercompartment 11 within which is mounted an ice tunnel 12, which is fonnedof a suitable plastic material such as polystyrene. The freezercompartment 11 has an air duct (not shown) in its rear wall 14 fordirecting air through the tunnel and over ice trays supported within thetunnel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the freezer compartment 11 includes a side wall 15on which L-shaped supports 16, 17, and 18 are fastened. Each of theL-shaped supports 16-18 includes a first leg 19, which is disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the side wall 15 and extending therefrom,and a second rectangular leg 20, which is disposed substantiallyparallel to the side wall 15 of the freezer compartment 11 and in spacedrelation thereto. The second leg 20 of each of the L-shaped supports16-18 extends from the first leg 19 forwardly toward entrance 2] (seeFIG. 1) of the freezer compartment 1 l.

As shown in FIG. 2, the L-shaped supports 17 and 18 are preferablydisposed in the same horizontal plane with the L-shaped support 16 beingdisposed in a plane substantially parallel to the horizontal planecontaining the L-shaped supports 17 and 18 and preferably above theL-shaped supports 17'and 18.

The ice tunnel 12, which is open at both ends, has a side wall 22 formedwith rectangular-shaped openings 23, 24, and 25. The openings 23, 24,and 25 are positioned in the wall 22 so as to receive the L-shapedsupports 16, 17, and 18, respectively, when the ice tunnel 12 is movedtowards the side wall 15 of the freezer compartment 11. Each of theopenings 23, 24, and has a greater height than the L-shaped supports 16,17, and 18 and a greater length than the length of the legs 20 of theL-shaped supports 16, 17, and 18.

While the opening 23 has a length greater than the length of theL-shaped support 16, the length of the opening 23 is reduced to lessthan the length of the L- shaped support 16 by a flexible tab 26 (seeFIG. 3), which is preferably formed integral with the side wall 22. Thetab 26 is also preferably of less width than the vertical dimension orheight of the opening 23 so that a slot or space 27 is formed betweenthe top of the tab 26 and the top edge of the opening 23 and a slot orspace 28 is formed between the bottom of the tab 26 and the bottom edgeof the opening 23.

To mount the ice tunnel 12 within the freezer compartment 11, the icetunnel 12 is disposed within the freezer compartment 11 so that theopenings 23-25 are aligned with the L-shaped supports 16-18,respectively. Then, the ice tunnel 12 is moved towards the side wall 15of the freezer compartment 11 so that the L-shaped supports 16-18protrude through the openings 23-25.

As the ice tunnel 12 is thus moved towards the side wall 15 so that theL-shaped supports 16-18 protrude through the openings 23-25 in the sidewall 22 of the ice tunnel 12, the tab 26 moves or flexes inwardlybecause of its resiliency. This bending of the tab 26 insures that theopening 23 is large enough to receive the L-shaped support 16.

After the L-shaped supports 16-18 have protruded through the openings23-25 in the side wall 22 of the tunnel 12, the ice tunnel 12 is movedrearwardly until one or more of the forward edges of each of theopenings 23-25 abuts against one or more forward edges 29 of the leg 19of each of the L-shaped supports 16-18 as shown in phantom in H0. 2. Theleg 20 of each of the L-shaped supports 16-18 then overlaps a portion ofthe side wall 22 of the ice tunnel 12 and is disposed substantiallyparallel thereto. The leg 20 is either in contact with the inner surfaceof the side wall 22 of the ice tunnel 12 or slightly spaced therefrom sothat any substantial movement of the ice tunnel 12 away from the sidewall 15 of the freezer compartment 11 is prevented.

To aid in mounting the ice tunnel 12 on the L-shaped supports 16-18, theleg 20 of each of the L-shaped supports 16-18 has its free end or edge30 beveled. The beveled end 30 enables rearward movement of the icetunnel 12 even if the leg 20 has not completely protruded into the icetunnel 12 at the start of the rearward movement of the ice tunnel 12.Thus, the beveled end 30 functions as a camming surface to insure thatforward edges of the L-shaped supports 16-18 do not prevent rearwardmovement of the ice tunnel 12 after the L-shaped supports 16-18 have atleast partially entered the openings 23-25.

As the ice tunnel 12 has been moved rearwardly into the freezercompartment 11, the tab 26 clears the rear end of leg 20 on support 16and due to its resiliency returns to the plane of the side wall 22wherein the tab 26 is disposed behind and in locking engagement with theL-shaped support 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the

ice tunnel 12 is locked in position by the tab 26 since the tab 26 abutsthe edge 31 of the leg 19 of theL- shaped support 16 if forward movementof the ice tunnel 12 is attempted.

To remove the ice tunnel 12 from the freezer compartment 11, it is firstnecessary to remove the tab 26 from its locking position. This can beaccomplished through disposing a tool such as a screw driver or knifeblade within either the slot 27 or 28 to spring the tab 26 out of theplane of the wall 22 towards the interior of the ice tunnel 12. With thetab 26 held in this sprung or non-locking position by the tool, initialforward movement of the ice tunnel 12 from the freezer compartment 11causes the leg 20 of the L-shaped support 16 to move rearwardly relativeto the ice tunnel 12 so as to be exterior of the held tab 26.Thereafter, it is not necessary for the tab 26 to be held by the toolsince the L-shaped support 16 now holds the tab 26 in the nonlockingposition.

As the forward movement of the ice tunnel 12 is continued until the rearedge of each of the openings 23-25 is engaged by the L-shaped supports16-18, the ice tunnel 12 can be pulled away from the side wall 15 of thefreezer compartment 11 to disengage the L- shaped supports 16-18 fromthe openings 23-25, respectively. Then, the ice tunnel 12 can be removedcompletely from the freezer compartment 11.

While the present invention has shown and described the L-shaped support16 as disposed above the L- shaped supports 17 and 18, it should beunderstood that the L-shaped support 16 could be disposed below theplane of the L-shaped supports 17 and 18. Also, while the L-shapedsupports 17 and 18 are preferably disposed in the same horizontal planeand the L-shaped support 16 positioned in a plane offset from thesupports 17 and 18, it should be understood that such is not necessaryfor the mounting arrangement to function satisfactorily. Any othersuitable arrangement of the L-shaped supports 16-18 in which all of thelegs 20 are parallel may be employed. Furthermore, it is not necessarythat the number of L-shaped supports 16-18 be limited to three althoughno more than three are required.

The L-shaped supports 16-18 can be located wherever desired on a sidewall of the freezer compartment 11. Thus, the ice tunnel 12 can belocated as desired within the freezer compartment.

For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of theinvention has been shown and described according to the best presentunderstanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes andmodifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereofmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1 claim: 1. In a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, theimprovement comprising:

a plurality of supports mounted on a wall of said freezer compartmentand extending therefrom;-

each of said supports being L-shaped and having one leg extendingsubstantially perpendicular from the wall of said freezer compartmentand the other leg substantially parallel to the wall of said freezercompartment and spaced therefrom, the other leg extending from the oneleg toward the entrance of said freezer compartment;

. 6 an ice tunnel having a wall for disposition adjacent 5. Anarrangement for mounting an ice tunnel in a said wall of said freezercompartment when said ice freezer compartment of a refrigeratorincluding: tunnel is disposed within said freezer compartment; aplurality of supports mounted on a wall of the t freezer compartment andextending therefrom, said wall of said ice tunnel having a plurality ofopen- 5 h f aid rt b i L-shaped and having ings therein for respectivelyreceiving the other leg one leg f Said Lrshaped support extending of ofsal d p to allow Said support to stantially perpendicular from the wallof the freezer tend 9 531d f tumleli compartment and the other legsubstantially paraleach of said openings being larger than said otherleg tel t0 the wall f the freezer Compartment and pp to rem-me movementbetween 10 spaced therefrom, the other leg being rectangular saidsupport and said opening after said support exand extending from the oneleg toward the tends through said opening into said ice tunnel; andtrance of the freezer compartment;

a plurality of rectangular openings in a wall of the ice movable meansextending from said wall of said ice tunnel each of Said Openingsreceiving one of Said tunnel into at least one of said openings toreduce at least the length of said opening to less than the length ofsaid support to be received therein, said movable means being movableout of said opening when said support is introduced into said openingand being movable back into said opening after reception of said supportto lock said ice tunnel in position in said freezer compartment.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said movable meanscooperates with the edge of the one leg of said support remote from thefree end thereof.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 in which said movable meanscomprises a movable tab integral with said wall of said ice tunnel, saidtab having a width supports to allow each of said supports to extendinto the ice tunnel;

each of said openings having a width greater than the width of the otherleg of said support to be received therein and a length greater than thelength of said other leg of said support to be received therein; and

flexible means integral with said ice tunnel wall and disposed in atleast one of said openings to reduce at least the length of said openingto less than the length of said support received therein to lock saidsupport in said opening to prevent removal of the ice tunnel from thefreezer compartment.

6. The mounting arrangement according to claim 5 less than the height ofsaid opening. Whlchi t 4. The improvement according to claim 3 in which:two of Sald p g the Wall of the ice tunnel are disposed in substantiallythe same horizontal plane; said wall of said ice tunnel has two of saidopenings and in substantially the same horizontal plane; and SaidOpening having Said tab is disposed in a plane said wall has saidopening having said tab disposed in 3 5 substantially parallel to theplane containing said a plane substantially parallel to the planecontaintwo openings.

ing said two openings.

1. In a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, the improvement comprising: a plurality of supports mounted on a wall of said freezer compartment and extending therefrom; each of said supports being L-shaped and having one leg extending substantially perpendicular from the wall of said freezer compartment and the other leg substantially parallel to the wall of said freezer compartment and spaced therefrom, the other leg extending from the one leg toward the entrance of said freezer compartment; an ice tunnel having a wall for disposition adjacent said wall of said freezer compartment when said ice tunnel is disposed within said freezer compartment; said wall of said ice tunnel having a plurality of openings therein for respectively receiving the other leg of one of said supports to allow said support to extend into said ice tunnel; each of said openings being larger than said other leg of a support to allow relative movement between said support and said opening after said support extends through said opening into said ice tunnel; and movable means extending from said wall of said ice tunnel into at least one of said openings to reduce at least the length of said opening to less than the length of said support to be received therein, said movable means being movable out of said opening when said support is introduced into said opening and being movable back into said opening after reception of said support to lock said ice tunnel in position in said freezer compartment.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said movable means cooperates with the edge of the one leg of said support remote from the free end thereof.
 3. The improvement according to claim 2 in which said movable means comprises a movable tab integral with said wall of said Ice tunnel, said tab having a width less than the height of said opening.
 4. The improvement according to claim 3 in which: said wall of said ice tunnel has two of said openings in substantially the same horizontal plane; and said wall has said opening having said tab disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing said two openings.
 5. An arrangement for mounting an ice tunnel in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator including: a plurality of supports mounted on a wall of the freezer compartment and extending therefrom, each of said supports being L-shaped and having one leg of said L-shaped support extending substantially perpendicular from the wall of the freezer compartment and the other leg substantially parallel to the wall of the freezer compartment and spaced therefrom, the other leg being rectangular and extending from the one leg toward the entrance of the freezer compartment; a plurality of rectangular openings in a wall of the ice tunnel, each of said openings receiving one of said supports to allow each of said supports to extend into the ice tunnel; each of said openings having a width greater than the width of the other leg of said support to be received therein and a length greater than the length of said other leg of said support to be received therein; and flexible means integral with said ice tunnel wall and disposed in at least one of said openings to reduce at least the length of said opening to less than the length of said support received therein to lock said support in said opening to prevent removal of the ice tunnel from the freezer compartment.
 6. The mounting arrangement according to claim 5 in which: two of said openings in the wall of the ice tunnel are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane; and said opening having said tab is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing said two openings. 